Touch input device, vehicle including the same, and method of manufacturing the vehicle

ABSTRACT

A touch input device includes: a main body including a touch input unit disposed on a surface of the main body and a base including a metal composite disposed on another surface of the main body; a first pattern groove engraved in a surface of the base; a second pattern groove engraved in the surface of the base and disposed adjacent to the first pattern groove; a first sensing pattern disposed in the first pattern groove and including a conductive material; and a second sensing pattern disposed in the second pattern groove and including a conductive material; and a wire connecting the first sensing pattern and the second sensing pattern to an integrated circuit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of and priority to Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2015-0162750, filed on Nov. 19, 2015 in the KoreanIntellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporatedherein by reference as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to a touch inputdevice, a vehicle including the same, and a method of manufacturing thevehicle, and more particularly, to a touch input device which is capableof forming electrodes without using an adhesion method, a vehicleincluding the touch input device, and a method of manufacturing thevehicle.

2. Description of the Related Art

Various electronic devices have been manufactured as development ofelectronic and communication technologies has progressed. Currently, theimportance of design quality of electronic devices is growing inaddition to user convenience. As an example, the diversification ofinput units represented by a keyboard, a keypad, or the like is becomingmore important.

The input unit is typically used in various kinds of display systems,such as a portable terminal, a laptop computer, a smart phone, a smartpad, a smart television (TV), and the like, all of which provide a userwith information. Recently, techniques for inputting command signalsusing touch operations have been widely implemented in place of methodsfor inputting command signals using physical keys, dials, and the like.

A touch input device, which is an input device comprising a userinterface combined with a communication device using various kinds ofdisplays, enables an interface between information being displayed and auser when the user directly contacts or approaches a touch pad or atouch screen using input means, such as his/her finger or a touch pen.Since the user can manipulate the touch input device only by contactingthe touch input device with a finger or a touch pen, the touch inputdevice can be easily used by men and women of all ages. Accordingly, thetouch input device is used in various devices, such as Automated TellerMachine (ATM), Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a mobile phone, etc.,and also applied to various fields, such as banks, public offices,sightseeing, traffic guidance, etc.

Recently, touch input devices have been applied to products such as tohealth- or medical-related equipment and vehicles. Particularly,utilization of touch panels is increasing since it can be used togetherwith a touch screen or independently in a display system. Also,techniques for inputting gestures or moving a point using touchoperations have been developed.

Touch input devices are capable of processing touch inputs throughvarious implementations including a resistive method, a capacitivemethod, a Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) method, and a transmitter method.A touch input device using the capacitive method typically includes atype of forming electrode patterns intersecting with each other, anddetecting a change in capacitance between the electrodes when an inputmeans such as a finger contacts any one(s) of them to detect a positionat which an input occurred. Also, there is a type of applying the samein-phase potential to both ends of a transmissive conductive film, anddetecting weak current flowing when capacitance is formed by an inputmeans such as a finger contacting or approaching the transmissiveconductive film to detect a position at which an input occurred.

Generally, the touch input device has a 2-panel laminate structure inwhich a first panel which includes a plurality of first sensing patternsis arranged in a first direction (e.g., an x-axis direction) on a firstsubstrate, a plurality of first metal patterns to electrically connectthe first sensing patterns to a sensor circuit for calculating thepositions of the first sensing patterns is attached on a second panelwhich includes a plurality of second sensing patterns arranged in asecond direction (e.g., a y-axis direction) on a second substrate, and aplurality of second metal patterns electrically connect the secondsensing patterns to a sensor circuit for calculating the positions ofthe second sensing patterns (e.g., using an adhesive).

Typical methods of manufacturing a touch input device include usingIndium Thin Oxide (ITO) that is a transparent electrode to be applied toa touch panel, using a metal mesh, and using a Flexible Printed CircuitBoard (FPCB). However, the typical methods require many processingstages, complicated processing, and high manufacturing costs.Particularly, using ITO causes a rise in product price due to the use ofhighly priced rare-earth materials. Furthermore, the typical methods arevulnerable to external vibrations or impacts or high temperature sincethey use adhesion methods. Accordingly, the durability of productsdeteriorates such that it is difficult to apply the methods to devicesaccompanying vibrations and high temperature.

SUMMARY

It is an aspect of the present disclosure to provide a touch inputdevice which is capable of forming electrodes without using an adhesionmethod, and a method of manufacturing the touch input device. It isanother aspect of the present disclosure to provide a slim touch inputdevice, and a manufacturing method thereof.

Additional aspects of the disclosure will be set forth in part in thedescription which follows and, in part, will be apparent from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the disclosure.

In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a touch inputdevice includes: a main body including a touch input unit disposed on asurface of the main body and a base including a metal composite disposedon another surface of the main body; a first pattern groove engraved ina surface of the base; a second pattern groove engraved in the surfaceof the base and disposed adjacent to the first pattern groove; a firstsensing pattern disposed in the first pattern groove and including aconductive material; and a second sensing pattern disposed in the secondpattern groove and including a conductive material; and a wireconnecting the first sensing pattern and the second sensing pattern toan integrated circuit.

The base may include a resin containing at least one of Polycarbonate(PC), Polyamide (PA), and Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene copolymer(ABS) and may include a metal oxide containing at least one of Mg, Cr,Cu, Ba, Fe, Ti, and Al.

The base may be coated with a resin, glass, or leather.

The first sensing pattern may be formed with a plurality of patterncolumns arranged in parallel, each pattern column formed by successivelyconnecting a pattern of a predetermined shape, one end of each patterncolumn connected to the wire, and the second sensing pattern may beformed with a plurality of pattern columns arranged in parallel, theplurality of pattern columns respectively maintained at a predetermineddistance to the plurality of pattern columns of the first sensingpattern.

The second sensing pattern may include: a successive pattern disposed ata predetermined distance to a pattern column of the first sensingpattern, and formed by successively connecting a pattern of apredetermined shape; and an extension pattern diverging from thesuccessive pattern and connected to the wire, and the extension patternmay include a plurality of patterns diverging from the successivepattern at regular distances.

A surface of the base touch input unit may include a curved surface or adiscontinuous surface.

A thickness of the main body may be uniform in areas where the firstsensing pattern and the second sensing pattern are disposed.

Furthermore, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, amethod of manufacturing a touch input device includes: preparing a mainbody including a touch input unit disposed on a surface of the main bodyand a base including a metal composite on another surface of the mainbody; forming a first pattern groove and a second pattern groove byirradiating a laser on a surface of the base, wherein the second patterngroove is formed adjacent to the first pattern groove; forming a firstsensing pattern and a second sensing pattern by performing plating ordeposition on the first pattern groove and the second pattern groove,wherein the first sensing pattern is spaced from the second sensingpattern; supplying current to the first sensing pattern and the secondsensing pattern to determine whether the first sensing pattern and thesecond sensing pattern are able to be used as sensors; and detecting achange in mutual capacitance between the first sensing pattern and thesecond sensing pattern.

The preparing of the main body may comprise coating the base with aresin, glass, or leather.

The preparing of the main body may include integrating the base into thetouch input unit, the base formed of a resin including a metalcomposite.

When a laser is irradiated to the surface of the base, metal seeds areexposed from inner side surfaces of the first pattern groove and thesecond pattern groove, and when the first sensing pattern and the secondsensing pattern are plated or deposited, a conductive material isattached on the metal seeds.

Furthermore, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, avehicle including the touch input device.

The touch input device may be installed at a centralized control systemin a gear box of the vehicle.

Furthermore, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, avehicle including a touch input device include: a touch input unitformed of a resin, glass, or leather; a base including a metal compositeand coated on a rear surface of the touch input unit; a first patterngroove formed in a surface of the base; a second pattern groove formedin the surface of the base and disposed adjacent to the first patterngroove; a first sensing pattern disposed in the first pattern groove andincluding a conductive material; a second sensing pattern disposed inthe second pattern groove and including a conductive material; and awire connecting the first sensing pattern and the second sensing patternto an integrated circuit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent andmore readily appreciated from the following description of theembodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings ofwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a touch input device according to afirst embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a plan view for describing a method of operating the touchinput device according to the first embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the touch input device shown in FIG.2, cut along a line A-A.

FIG. 4 shows a trajectory drawn by a user's finger when the user makes agesture in a up-down direction.

FIG. 5 shows a trajectory drawn by a user's finger when the user makes agesture in a left-right direction.

FIG. 6 shows a first modified embodiment of the touch input deviceaccording to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 shows a second modified embodiment of the touch input deviceaccording to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a third modified embodiment of the touchinput device according to the first embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the third modified embodiment, cutalong a line B-B of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a touch input device according to asecond embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the touch input device according to the secondembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the touch input device shown inFIG. 11, cut along a line C-C of FIG. 11.

FIGS. 13, 14, and 15 are views for describing methods of manipulatingthe touch input device according to the second embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 13 is a plan view for describing a method of inputting a gesture,FIG. 14 is a plan view for describing a method of making a swipinginput, and FIG. 15 is a plan view for describing a method of making apressing input.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of health-care equipment in which thetouch input device according to the second embodiment of the presentdisclosure is installed.

FIG. 17 shows the interior of the vehicle in which the touch inputdevice according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure isinstalled.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a gear box in which the touch inputdevice according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure isinstalled.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing an internal structure of the touchinput device according to the second embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 20 is a plan view showing a sensing pattern of the touch inputdevice according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 21 is an enlarged view showing the sensing pattern in detail.

FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view of a touch input device according to athird embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating a method of manufacturing the touchinput device according to the third embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIGS. 24 to 28 are cross-sectional views for describing the method ofmanufacturing the touch input device according to the third embodimentof the present disclosure.

FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view of a touch input device according to afourth embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional view of a touch input device according to afifth embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 31 shows a touch input device according to a sixth embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 32 shows a touch input device according to a seventh embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

It should be understood that the above-referenced drawings are notnecessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified representation ofvarious preferred features illustrative of the basic principles of thedisclosure. The specific design features of the present disclosure,including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, locations,and shapes, will be determined in part by the particular intendedapplication and use environment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described indetail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The followingembodiments are provided to transfer the technical concepts of thepresent disclosure to one of ordinary skill in the art. However, thepresent disclosure is not limited to these embodiments, and may beembodied in another form. In the drawings, parts that are irrelevant tothe descriptions may be not shown in order to clarify the presentdisclosure, and also, for easy understanding, the sizes of componentsare more or less exaggeratedly shown.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure.As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or”includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associatedlisted items.

It is understood that the term “vehicle” or “vehicular” or other similarterm as used herein is inclusive of motor vehicles in general such aspassenger automobiles including sports utility vehicles (SUV), buses,trucks, various commercial vehicles, watercraft including a variety ofboats and ships, aircraft, and the like, and includes hybrid vehicles,electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, hydrogen-poweredvehicles and other alternative fuel vehicles (e.g., fuels derived fromresources other than petroleum). As referred to herein, a hybrid vehicleis a vehicle that has two or more sources of power, for example bothgasoline-powered and electric-powered vehicles.

Additionally, it is understood that one or more of the below methods, oraspects thereof, may be executed by at least one controller. The term“controller” may refer to a hardware device that includes a memory and aprocessor. The memory is configured to store program instructions, andthe processor is specifically programmed to execute the programinstructions to perform one or more processes which are describedfurther below. Moreover, it is understood that the below methods may beexecuted by an apparatus comprising the controller in conjunction withone or more other components, as would be appreciated by a person ofordinary skill in the art.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a touch input device 100 accordingto a first embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 1, the touch input device 100 according to the firstembodiment of the present disclosure may include a touch unit 110mounted on an installation surface 130.

The touch unit 110 may be provided as a predetermined area for receivinga user's touch signals. For example, the touch unit 110 may be providedas a circular flat surface, as shown in FIG. 1. Also, the touch unit 110may be provided as a flat surface of another figure such as an oval.

The touch unit 110 may be a touch pad to which a signal is input when auser contacts or approaches the touch pad with his/her finger or apointer such as a touch pen. The user may input an instruction orcommand by making a predetermined touch gesture on the touch unit 110.

The touch pad may include a touch film or a touch sheet including atouch sensor. Also, the touch pad may include a touch panel as a displaydevice in which a touch input can be made on a screen.

Meanwhile, operation of recognizing the location of a pointer when thepointer approaches close to a touch pad without contacting the touch padis called “proximity touch”, and operation of recognizing the locationof a pointer when the pointer contacts a touch pad is called “contacttouch”. Herein, the location of a pointer determined by proximity touchmay be the location of the pointer positioned vertical to a touch padwhen the pointer approaches close to the touch pad.

The touch pad may be a resistive type, an optical type, a capacitivetype, an ultrasonic type, or a pressure type. That is, the touch pad maybe any one of various kinds of well-known touch pads.

The touch unit 110 may be positioned in the inside of a border area 120.The border area 120 means an area surrounding the touch unit 110, andmay be made of a material that is different from the touch unit 110.Also, the border area 120 may be integrated into the installationsurface 130, or may be a separate member provided between theinstallation surface 130 and the touch unit 110. Also, the border area120 may be omitted, and in this case, the touch unit 110 may bepositioned directly in the inside of the installation surface 130.

In the border area 120, a key button or a touch button 121 may bedisposed to surround the touch unit 110. That is, the user may input agesture through the touch unit 110, or may input a signal through thetouch button 121 provided in the border area 120 around the touch unit110.

The touch input device 100 according to the first embodiment of thepresent disclosure may further include a wrist support part 131 disposedbelow the touch unit 110 and configured to support the user's wrist. Thesupport surface of the wrist support part 131 may be higher than thetouch surface of the touch unit 110. This structure may prevent theuser's wrist from being bent upward when making a gesture on the touchunit 110 with his/her finger, while supporting his/her wrist on thewrist support part 131. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent theuser's muscular skeletal diseases which may be generated when the userrepeatedly makes touch operations, while providing a comfortableoperation feeling.

For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the wrist support part 131 may beintegrated into the installation surface 130 in such a way to protrudefrom the installation surface 130. Alternatively, the wrist support part131 may be a separate member mounted on the installation surface 130.

FIG. 2 is a plan view for describing a method of operating the touchinput device 100 according to the first embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

The touch input device 100 according to the first embodiment of thepresent disclosure may include a controller to recognize gesture signalsinput to the touch unit 110, to analyze the gesture signals, and toissue commands to various devices.

The controller may move a cursor or a menu on a display unit (not shown)according to a movement of the pointer on the touch unit 110. That is,when the pointer moves from top to bottom, the controller may move acursor appearing on the display unit in the same direction, or move apreliminarily selected menu to its lower menu.

Also, the controller may analyze a trajectory along which the pointermoves to correspond the trajectory to a predetermined gesture, andexecute a command defined for the corresponding gesture. The gesture maybe input when the pointer performs flicking, rolling, spinning, ortapping. Also, the user may input a gesture using one of various touchinput methods.

The flicking means a touch input method in which the pointer moves in adirection while contacting the touch unit 110 and then releases thecontact state, the rolling means a touch input method in which thepointer draws a circular arc with respect to the center of the touchunit 110, the spinning means a touch input method in which the pointerdraws a circle with respect to the center of the touch unit 110, and thetapping means a touch input method in which the pointer taps the touchunit 110.

Also, the user may input a gesture using a multi-pointer input method.The multi-pointer input method is a method of inputting a gesture whilecontacting the touch unit 110 with two pointers simultaneously orsequentially. For example, the user may input a gesture while contactingthe touch unit 110 with his/her two fingers. The multi-pointer inputmethod may allow the user to input various commands or instructions.

The various touch input methods may include a method of inputtingpredetermined arbitrary gestures, as well as a method of inputtinggestures, such as figures, characters, or symbols. For example, the usermay draw a consonant/vowel of Hangul, an alphabet, an Arabic numeral, ora symbol of the four fundamental arithmetic operations on the touch unit110 to input a command. Since the user can input a character, a figure,etc. which he/she wants to input, directly through the touch unit 100,instead of selecting the character, figure, etc. from the display unit,it is possible to provide a more intuitive interface while reducing aninput time.

The touch unit 110 may be configured to recognize pressing operation ortilting operation. The user may apply pressure to the touch unit 110 topress or tilt a part of the touch unit 110, thereby inputting a desiredexecution signal. Herein, the pressing operation may include operationof pressing the touch unit 110 in a horizontal orientation or operationof pressing the touch unit 110 in an inclined orientation. Also, if thetouch unit 110 is a flexible device, the pressing operation may includeoperation of pressing a part of the touch unit 110.

For example, the touch unit 110 may be tilted in at least one directionwith respect to a direction that is vertical to the touch surface. Forexample, the touch unit 110 may be tilted in front, back, left, andright directions d1, d2, d3, and d4, as shown in FIG. 2. However,according to another embodiment, the touch unit 110 may be tilted inother various directions than the above-mentioned directions. Also, ifthe user presses the center area d5 of the touch unit 110, the touchunit 110 may be pressed horizontally.

The user may press or tilt the touch input device 100 to input apredetermined instruction or command. For example, the user may pressthe center area d5 of the touch unit 110 to select a menu, etc., or maypress the upper area d1 of the touch unit 110 to move the cursor upward.

Also, the touch input device 100 may further include a button input unit121. The button input unit 121 may be disposed around the touch unit110, for example, at the border area 120. The user can operate thebutton input unit 121 without changing his/her hand's position whilemaking a gesture, so as to quickly issue an operation command.

The button input unit 121 may include a touch button and a physicalbutton. The touch button may input a signal when it is touched by apointer, and the physical button may input a signal when its shapechanges by a physical external force. The physical button may include,for example, a button configured to be clickable, and a buttonconfigured to be tiltable.

In FIG. 2, five buttons 121 (that is, 121 a, 121 b, 121 c, 121 d, and121 e) are shown. For example, the buttons 121 may include a Home button121 a to move to a Home menu, a Back button 121 d to move from a currentscreen to a previous screen, an option button 121 e to move to an optionmenu, and two shortcut buttons 121 b and 121 c. The shortcut buttons 121b and 121 c may be used to directly move to an often used menu or adevice designated by a user.

Meanwhile, the touch input device 100 may install various kinds ofcomponents related to operations therein, which are not shown in thedrawings. For example, the touch input device 100 may include astructure of making the touch unit 110 pressed or tilted in theabove-mentioned five directions d1 to d5. In the drawings, such astructure is omitted, however, the structure can be easily implementedusing technologies generally used in the related art.

Also, in the touch input device 100, various kinds of semiconductorchips and Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) may be installed. Thesemiconductor chips may be mounted on the PCBs to perform dataprocessing or to store data. The semiconductor chips may interpret apredetermined electrical signal generated according to an external forceapplied to the touch input device 100, a gesture recognized by the touchunit 110, or an operation applied to the button 121 installed in thetouch input device 100, generate a predetermined control signalaccording to the result of the interpretation, and then transfer thepredetermined control signal to a controller or a display unit ofanother device.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the touch input device 100 shown inFIG. 2, cut along a line A-A.

The touch unit 110 may include an area that is lower than a border linewith the border area 120 or the installation surface 120. That is, thetouch surface of the touch unit 110 may be lower than the border of thetouch unit 110 with the border area 120. For example, the touch unit 110may be inclined downward from the border line with the border area 120,or stepped with respect to the border line with the border area 120. Forexample, the touch unit 110 according to the first embodiment of thepresent disclosure may include, as shown in FIG. 3, a curved area havinga concave curved surface.

Meanwhile, in FIG. 3, an example in which the touch area of the touchunit 110 is inclined downward without making any step from the borderline with the border area 120 is shown. However, the touch area of thetouch unit 110 may be inclined downward with a step made downward fromthe border line with the border area 120.

Since the touch unit 110 includes an area that is lower than the borderline with the border area 120, the user can recognize the area andborder of the touch unit 110 by his/her tactile sensation. A gesture canbe recognized with a high recognition rate when it is made at the centerarea of the touch unit 110. Also, when similar gestures are input atdifferent locations on the touch unit 110, there is a risk that thegestures will be recognized as different commands. The problem may occurwhen the user makes a gesture without keeping his/her eyes on the toucharea. If the user can recognize the touch area and the touch border withhis/her tactile sensation even when he/she makes a gesture while seeingthe display unit or while concentrating his/her attention on an externalsituation, the user can input the gesture at an exact location. That is,the accuracy of a gesture input can be improved.

The touch unit 110 may include a concave shape. Herein, the concaveshape means a concaved or depressed shape, and may include a curveddepressed shape, an inclined depressed shape, and a stepped depressedshape.

Also, the touch unit 110 may include a concave curved shape. Forexample, the touch unit 110 according to the first embodiment of thepresent disclosure may be, as shown in FIG. 3, in the shape of a concavecurved surface having a constant curvature. That is, the touch unit 110may be in the shape of a part of the inner side surface of a sphere. Ifthe curvature of the touch unit 110 is constant, the user may experiencea minimum amount of foreign sensation when making a gesture on the touchunit 110.

Also, the touch unit 110 may include a concave shape that becomes deepergradually from the edge area to the center or that is maintained at thesame depth. That is, the touch unit 110 may have no convex surface. Ifthe touch unit 110 has a convex surface, the user may fail to input atouch operation at an exact location since trajectories along which theuser can draw gestures naturally are influenced by the curve of thetouch surface. The touch unit 110 shown in FIG. 1 may be lowered with aconstant curvature gradually from the edge area to the center C1 to bedeepest at the center C1.

Meanwhile, the above-mentioned convex surface does not mean a convexsurface at a local area, but means a convex surface throughout theentire touch area of the touch unit 110. Accordingly, in the touch unit110 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a smallprotrusion may be formed at the center so that the user can intuitivelyrecognize the center with his/her tactile sensation, or the touch unit110 may be molded such that a small wrinkle protrudes in the shape of aconcentric circle.

Alternatively, the curved surface of the touch unit 110 may havedifferent curvatures. For example, the touch unit 110 may include aconcave curved surface having a more gradual slope at an area closer tothe center. That is, an area of the touch unit 110 that is relativelycloser to the center of the touch unit 110 may have a relatively smallercurvature (i.e., a relatively greater radius of curvature), and an areaof the touch unit 110 that is relatively more distant from the centermay have a relatively greater curvature (i.e., a relatively smallerradius of curvature). As such, since the curvature of the center area ofthe touch unit 110 is smaller than that of the edge area of the touchunit 110, the user can easily make a gesture on the center area using apointer. Also, since the curvature of the edge area is greater than thatof the center area, the user can touch the edge area to recognize thecurvature, thereby easily recognizing the location of the center areawithout seeing the touch unit 110.

In the touch input device 100 according to the first embodiment of thepresent disclosure, since the touch unit 110 includes a concave curvedsurface, a touch sensation (or an operation sensation) that the userfeels when making a gesture can be enhanced. The curved surface of thetouch unit 110 may be shaped to be similar to a trajectory drawn bymovement of a human's fingertips when he/she rotates or twists his/herwrist while fixing his/her wrist and moving or spreading his/herfingers.

The touch unit 110 including the concave curved surface may be ergonomiccompared to a typical flat touch unit. That is, the touch unit 110 canreduce fatigue applied to the user's wrist while improving the user'stouch sensitivity. Also, the touch unit 110 may improve the accuracy ofgesture input, compared to the case of inputting a gesture to a flattouch unit.

Also, the touch unit 110 may be formed in the shape of a circle. If thetouch unit 110 is formed in the shape of a circle, it will be effectiveto form a concave curved surface. Also, if the touch unit 110 is formedin the shape of a circle, the user can sense the circular touch area ofthe touch unit 110 with his/her tactile sensation, and thus can easilymake a circular gesture, such as rolling or spinning.

Also, since the touch unit 110 is formed in the shape of a concavecurved surface, the user can intuitively determine where his/her fingeris positioned on the touch unit 110. That is, the touch unit 110 mayhave different inclinations at all locations since it is formed in theshape of a curved surface. Accordingly, the user may intuitivelydetermine where his/her finger is positioned on the touch unit 110,through a sense of inclination felt through his/her finger.

This feature may provide a feedback about where the user's finger ispositioned on the touch unit 110 when the user makes a gesture on thetouch unit 110 while fixing his/her eyes on any other place than thetouch unit 110, so as to help the user input a desired gesture, therebyimproving the accuracy of gesture input. For example, if the user feelsthat the surface of the touch unit 100 is flat through a sense ofinclination felt by his/her finger, the user can intuitively determinethat he/she touches the center area of the touch unit 110. Also, theuser may recognize a direction of inclination felt by his/her finger tothereby intuitively determine which direction his/her finger ispositioned in with respect to the center area.

Meanwhile, the diameter and depth of the touch unit 110 may be decidedin the range of an ergonomic design. For example, the diameter of thetouch unit 110 may be selected within a range from 50 mm to 80 mm. Thereason is because a range to which a finger can move naturally at oncewhen a wrist is fixed is about 80 mm, in consideration of the averagelength of an adult's finger. If the diameter of the touch unit 110exceeds 80 mm, the user may need to move his/her hand unnaturally anduse his/her wrist more than necessary when drawing a circle along theedge of the touch unit 110.

In contrast, if the diameter of the touch unit 110 is smaller than 50mm, the touch area may be reduced so that the user may have difficultiesin making various gestures. Also, since a gesture is drawn in a narrowarea, gesture input errors may be easily generated.

Also, if the touch unit 110 is formed in the shape of a sphericalsurface, a depth/diameter value of the touch unit 110 may be selectedwithin a range from 0.04 to 0.1. The value obtained by dividing thedepth of the touch unit 110 by the diameter of the touch unit 110 meansa degree of bending of the curved surface. That is, as thedepth/diameter value is greater at a constant diameter of the touch unit110, the touch unit 110 may have a more concave shape. In contrast, asthe depth/diameter value is smaller at a constant diameter of the touchunit 110, the touch unit 110 may have a flatter shape.

If the depth/diameter value of the touch unit 110 is greater than 0.1,the curvature of the concave surface may increase, resulting indeterioration of a user's touch sensitivity. Accordingly, the curvatureof the concave surface may be preferably identical to the curvature of acurve drawn by a user's fingertip when the user moves his/her fingernaturally on the touch unit 110. However, if the depth/diameter valueexceeds 0.1, the user may get an artificial operation feeling whenhe/she moves his/her finger along the touch unit 110. Also, when theuser moves his/her finger naturally and unconsciously on the touch unit110, the user's finger may be taken off the touch unit 110. In thiscase, a gesture may be disconnected so that a recognition error may begenerated.

In contrast, if the depth/diameter value of the touch unit 110 issmaller than 0.04, the user cannot get a difference of an operationfeeling compared to the case of drawing a gesture on a flat touch unit.

Meanwhile, a touch pad that is used in the touch unit 110 formed in theshape of a curved shape may recognize touch operations using an opticalmethod. For example, in the rear surface of the touch unit 110, InfraredRays Light Emitting Diodes (IR LEDs) and a photodiode array may bedisposed. The IR LEDs and the photodiode array may acquire an IR imagereflected by a finger, and the controller may extract a touch point fromthe acquired image.

FIG. 4 shows a trajectory drawn by a user's finger when the user makes agesture in a up-down direction, and FIG. 5 shows a trajectory drawn by auser's finger when the user makes a gesture in a left-right direction.

The touch unit 110 according to an embodiment of the present disclosuremay include a concave curved surface. The curvature of the touch unit110 may be decided to an appropriate value such that a user can get acomfortable operation feeling when making a gesture on the touch unit110.

As shown in FIG. 4, when a user moves his/her finger in a up-downdirection, the user can make a gesture by natural movement of his/herfinger without moving or bending any joint except for the finger.Likewise, referring to FIG. 5, when the user moves his/her finger in aleft-right direction, the user can make a gesture by natural movement ofhis/her finger and wrist without twisting his/her wrist excessively. Assuch, since the touch unit 110 is designed ergonomically, a user mayfeel low fatigue even when using the touch unit 110 for a long time,while being protected from muscular skeletal diseases that may begenerated in his/her wrist or joints.

The touch unit 110 according to an embodiment of the present disclosuremay include a center area and an edge area that have differentinclinations or curvatures. If the touch unit 110 is designed to have aflat surface or an inclined surface, the center area and the edge areamay have different inclinations, and if the touch unit 110 is designedto have a curved surface, the center area and the edge area may havedifferent curvatures. Hereinafter, modified embodiments will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

FIG. 6 shows a first modified embodiment 100-1 of the touch input device100 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

Although not shown in FIG. 6, a touch unit 110-1 according to the firstmodified embodiment 100-1 may be formed in the shape of a circle (e.g.,see FIG. 2). Also, a center area 111 of the touch unit 110-1 may have aflat surface, and an edge area 112 of the touch unit 110-1 may have aconcave curved surface. The bounder B1 of the center area 111 and theedge area 112 may also be in the shape of a circle.

The touch unit 110-1 can provide different effects by changing a ratioof the width of the center area 111 to that of the edge area 112. Forexample, by relatively widening the width of the center area 111 andrelatively narrowing the width of the edge area 112, the center area 111having the flat surface may be used as space for allowing a user to makea gesture such as a character, and the edge area 112 having the curvedsurface may be used to allow the user to make a circular gesture, suchas rolling or spinning.

Also, by relatively narrowing the width of the center area 111 andrelatively widening the width of the edge area 112, the edge area 112having the curved surface may be used as space for allowing the user tomake a gesture, and the center area 111 may be used as an indicator forallowing the user to sense the center of the touch unit 110.

Meanwhile, touch signals that are respectively input to the center area111 and the edge area 112 may be separated from each other. For example,a touch signal acquired from the center area 111 may mean a signalrelated to a lower menu, and a touch signal acquired from the edge area112 may mean a signal related to a upper menu.

FIG. 7 shows a second modified embodiment 100-2 of the touch inputdevice 100 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

The touch unit 110-2 according to the second modified embodiment 100-2may include a center area 113 having a concave curved surface, and anedge area 114 having a flat surface. The border B2 of the center area113 and the edge area 114 may be in the shape of a circle.

However, the shapes of the center area and the edge area are not limitedto the center areas 111 and 113 and the edge areas 112 and 114 of thefirst and second modified embodiments, and the center area and the edgearea may be formed in other various shapes. Also, the center area 111 or113 and the edge area 112 or 114 may be separated by at least two steps.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a third modified embodiment 100-3 of thetouch input device 100 according to the first embodiment of the presentdisclosure, and FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the third modifiedembodiment 100-3, cut along a line B-B of FIG. 8.

A touch unit 110-3 according to the third modified embodiment 100-3 maybe formed in the shape of an oval. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, thetouch unit 110-3 may be formed such that the internal diameter in theup-down direction is longer than that in the left-right direction.

Also, the lowest position C2 of the touch unit 110-3 may be leaningtoward a predetermined direction from the center of the touch unit110-3. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the lowest position C2 of thetouch unit 110-3 may be leaning toward the down direction.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a touch input device 200 according to asecond embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 10, the touch input device 200 according to the secondembodiment of the present disclosure may include a plurality of touchunits 210 and 220 that a user touches to make a gesture, and a borderarea 230 surrounding the touch units 210 and 220.

The touch units 210 and 220 may include a gesture input unit 210 locatedin the center area of the touch input device 200, and a swiping inputunit 220 located along the circumference of the gesture input unit 210.The swiping input unit 220 may be provided to allow a user to input aswiping gesture, wherein “swipe” means a gesture that is made withouttaking a pointer off a touch pad.

Each of the touch units 210 and 220 may be a touch pad to which a signalis input when a user contacts or approaches close to the touch pad witha pointer, such as his/her finger or a touch pen. The user may make apredetermined touch gesture on any one(s) of the touch units 210 and 220to thus input a desired instruction or command.

The touch pad may include a touch film or a touch sheet including atouch sensor. Also, the touch pad may include a touch panel as a displaydevice in which a touch input can be made through a screen.

Meanwhile, operation of recognizing the location of a pointer when thepointer approaches close to a touch pad without contacting the touch padis called “proximity touch”, and operation of recognizing the locationof a pointer when the pointer contacts the touch pad is called “contacttouch”. Herein, the location of the pointer determined by proximitytouch may be the location of the pointer positioned vertical to thetouch pad when the pointer approaches close to the touch pad.

The touch pad may be a resistive type, an optical type, a capacitivetype, an ultrasonic type, or a pressure type. That is, the touch pad maybe any one of various kinds of well-known touch pads.

The border area 230 may be an area surrounding the touch units 210 and220, and may be provided as a separate member from the touch units 210and 220. In the border area 230, key buttons 232 a and 232 b or touchbuttons 231 a, 231 b, and 231 c may be positioned to surround the touchunits 210 and 220. That is, the user may input a gesture through thetouch units 210 and 220, or may input a signal through the touch buttons231 and 232 provided in the border area 230 around the touch units 210and 220.

The touch input device 200 may further include a wrist support part 241disposed below the touch units 210 and 220 and configured to support auser's wrist. The wrist support part 241 may be higher than the touchsurface of the touch units 210 and 220. This structure may prevent theuser's wrist from being bent when the user makes a gesture on the touchunits 210 and 220 with his/her finger, while supporting the user's wriston the wrist support part 241. Accordingly, the wrist support part 241may prevent the user's muscular skeletal diseases, while providing acomfortable operation feeling.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the touch input device 200 according to thesecond embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 12 is across-sectional view of the touch input device 200 shown in FIG. 11, cutalong a line C-C of FIG. 11.

The touch units 210 and 220 may include an area that is lower than aborder with the border area 230. That is, the touch surfaces of thetouch unit 210 and 220 may be lower than the border area 230. Forexample, the touch units 210 and 220 may be inclined downward from theborder with the border area 230, or stepped with respect to the borderwith the border area 230.

Since the touch units 210 and 220 are located lower than the border withthe border area 230, a user can recognize the area and border of thetouch units 210 and 220 with his/her tactile sensation. A gesture can berecognized with a high recognition rate when it is made at the centerarea of the touch units 210 and 220. Also, when similar gestures areinput at different locations on the touch units 210 and 220, there is arisk that the controller will recognize the gestures as differentcommands. The problem may occur when the user inputs a gesture withoutkeeping his/her eyes on the touch areas. If the user can recognize thetouch area and the border with his/her tactile sensation even whenhe/she inputs a gesture while seeing the display unit or whileconcentrating his/her attention on an external situation, the user caninput the gesture at an exact location. That is, the accuracy of gestureinput can be improved.

The touch units 210 and 220 may include a gesture input unit 210 locatedat the center area of the touch input device 200, and a swiping inputunit 220 inclined along the circumference of the gesture input unit 210.If the touch units 210 and 220 are formed in the shape of a circle, thegesture input unit 210 may be in the shape of a part of the inner sidesurface of a sphere, and the swiping input unit 220 may be provided asan inclined surface surrounding the circumference of the gesture inputunit 210.

A user may input a swiping gesture along the swiping input unit 210provided in the shape of a circle. For example, the user may input aswiping gesture in a clockwise direction or in a counterclockwisedirection along the swiping input unit 220. Meanwhile, although acircular gesture, such as rolling or spinning, made on the gesture inputunit 210, or a gesture of rubbing from left to right belongs to theswiping gesture, the swiping gesture in the current embodiment may bedefined as a gesture that is input to the swiping input unit 220.

Swiping gestures that are input to the swiping input unit 220 may berecognized as different gestures when they have different startingpoints and ending points. That is, a swiping gesture input to an area ofthe swiping input unit 220 located to the left of the gesture input unit210, and a swiping gesture input to another area of the swiping inputunit 220 located to the right of the gesture input unit 210 may causedifferent operations. Also, if the user finishes making gestures atdifferent locations although he/she makes the gestures starting from thesame location, that is, if the user takes his/her finger off atdifferent locations, the gestures may be recognized as differentgestures.

Also, a tap gesture may be input to the swiping input unit 220. That is,if the user taps the swiping input unit 220 at different locations,different commands or instructions may be input according to thelocations.

The swiping input unit 220 may include a plurality of gradations 221.The gradations 221 may inform the user of a relative location visuallyor tactually. For example, the gradations 221 may be engraved orembossed. Also, the gradations 221 may be arranged at regular intervals.Accordingly, the user can intuitively recognize the number of gradationsthrough which his/her finger passes, while making a swiping gesture,thereby precisely adjusting the length of the swiping gesture.

For example, according to the number of gradations through which theuser's finger passes to make a swiping gesture, a cursor that isdisplayed on the display unit may move. If various selectable charactersare successively arranged on the display unit, a selected character maymove to the next one whenever the user's finger passes through onegradation to make a swiping gesture.

A degree of inclination of the swiping input unit 220 according to anembodiment of the present disclosure may be greater than a degree oftangential inclination of the gesture input unit 210 at the border atwhich the swiping input unit 220 meets the gesture input unit 210. Theuser may intuitively recognize the touch area of the gesture input unit210 from a difference in inclination between the gesture input unit 210and the swiping input unit 220 when making a gesture on the gestureinput unit 210.

Meanwhile, while a gesture is made on the gesture input unit 210, notouch operation made on the swiping input unit 220 may be recognized.Accordingly, although the user touches the swiping input unit 220 whenmaking a gesture on the gesture input unit 210, the gesture made on thegesture input unit 210 may not overlap with any gesture made on theswiping input unit 210.

Meanwhile, the gesture input unit 210 and the swiping input unit 220 maybe integrated into one unit. Also, the gesture input unit 210 and theswiping input unit 220 may have separate touch sensors or a single touchsensor. If the gesture input unit 210 and the swiping input unit 220have a single touch sensor, the controller may distinguish the toucharea of the gesture input unit 210 from the touch area of the swipinginput unit 220, thereby distinguishing a gesture input signal acquiredfrom the gesture input unit 210 from a gesture input signal acquiredfrom the swiping input unit 220.

The touch input device 200 may further include a plurality of buttoninput parts 231 and 232. The button input parts 231 and 232 may bearranged around the touch units 210 and 220. The user may operate thebuttons 231 and 232 without changing the position of his/her hand, whilemaking a gesture, thereby quickly issuing an operation command.

The button input parts 231 and 232 may include a plurality of touchbuttons 232 a 231 b, and 231 c each of which can perform a designatedfunction according to touch operation from the user, or a plurality ofpressure buttons 232 a and 232 b each of which can perform a designatedfunction when its position changes by an external force applied by theuser. If the button input parts 231 and 232 include the touch buttons231 a, 231 b, and 231 c, the button input parts 231 and 232 may alsoinclude a touch sensor.

The pressure buttons 232 a and 232 b may be configured to slide in theup-down direction (that is, an out-of-plane direction) or in an in-planedirection by an external force. When the pressure buttons 232 a and 232b is configured to slide in the in-plane direction, the user may pull orpush the pressure buttons 232 a and 232 b to input a signal. Also, thepressure buttons 232 a and 232 b may be configured to input differentsignals between when the user pushes the pressure buttons 232 a and 232b and when the user pulls the pressure buttons 232 a and 232 b.

In FIG. 11, five buttons 231 and 232 (i.e., 231 a, 231 b, 231 c, 232 a,and 232 b) are shown. For example, the buttons 231 and 232 may include aHome button 231 a to move to a Home menu, a Back button 231 b to movefrom a current screen to a previous screen, an Option button 231 c tomove to an Option menu, and two shortcut buttons 232 a and 232 b. Theshortcut buttons 232 a and 232 b may be used to directly move to anoften used menu or a device designated by a user.

In the button input parts 231 and 232 according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure, the touch buttons 231 a, 231 b, and 231 c may bepositioned in the upper area and both side areas, and the pressurebuttons 232 a and 232 b may be respectively positioned between the touchbutton 231 a and the touch button 231 b and between the touch button 231a and the touch button 231 c. As such, since the pressure buttons 232 aand 232 b are respectively disposed between the neighboring touchbuttons 231 a, 231 b, and 231 c, the user can be prevented from making amistake of operating his/her unintended touch button 231 a, 231 b, or231 c.

FIGS. 13, 14, and 15 are views for describing methods of manipulatingthe touch input device 200 according to the second embodiment of thepresent disclosure, wherein FIG. 13 is a plan view for describing amethod of inputting a gesture, FIG. 14 is a plan view for describing amethod of making a swiping input, and FIG. 15 is a plan view fordescribing a method of making a pressing input.

As shown in FIG. 13, a user may draw a gesture on the gesture input unit210 to input an operation command. In FIG. 13, a flicking gesture ofmoving a pointer from left to right is shown. Also, as shown in FIG. 14,the user may rub the swiping input unit 220 to input an operationcommand. In FIG. 14, a swiping gesture of moving the pointer from theleft part of the swiping input unit 220 to the upper part of the swipinginput unit 220 along the swiping input unit 220 is shown. Also, as shownin FIG. 15, the user may press the gesture input unit 210 to input anoperation command. In FIG. 15, operation of pressing the left part ofthe gesture input unit 210 is shown.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of health-care equipment in which thetouch input device 200 according to the second embodiment of the presentdisclosure is installed.

The touch input device 200 according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure may be installed in health-care equipment 10. The health-careequipment 10 may be medical equipment. The health-care equipment 10 mayinclude a main body 251 on which a user can stand, a display unit 250, afirst connecting unit 252 to connect the display unit 250 to the mainbody 251, the touch input device 200, and a second connecting unit 253to connect the touch input device 200 to the main body 251.

The main body 251 may measure a user's various physical informationincluding the user's weight. Also, the display unit 250 may displayvarious image information including the measured physical information.The user may manipulate the touch input device 200 while seeing thedisplay unit 250.

The touch input device 200 according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure may be installed in a vehicle 20 (e.g., see FIG. 17).

The vehicle 20 may be one of various kinds of machinery for transportinghumans, things, animals, etc. from a departure point to a destination.The vehicle 20 may include a car that travels on roads or rails, avessel that sails the sea or river, and an airplane that flies the skyusing the effects of the air.

The car that travels on the roads or rails can move in a predetermineddirection by rotation of at least one wheel. Examples of the car mayinclude a three-wheeled vehicle, a four-wheeled vehicle, a two-wheeledvehicle, a motor bicycle, construction equipment, a bicycle, and a trainrunning on a track.

FIG. 17 shows the interior of the vehicle 20 in which the touch inputdevice 200 according to the second embodiment of the present disclosureis installed, and FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a gear box 300 inwhich the touch input device 200 according to the second embodiment ofthe present disclosure is installed.

As shown in FIG. 17, the vehicle 20 may include seats 21 on which adriver and a passenger sit, and a dashboard 24 in which the gear box300, a center fascia 22, a steering wheel 23, etc. are installed.

In the center fascia 22, an air conditioner 310, a clock 312, an audiosystem 313, an Audio-Video-Navigation (AVN) system 314, etc. may beinstalled.

The air conditioner 310 may adjust the temperature, humidity, airquality, and flow of air inside the vehicle 20 to maintain the inside ofthe vehicle 20 pleasant. The air conditioner 310 may be installed in thecenter fascia 22, and may include at least one vent 311 for dischargingair. In the center fascia 22, at least one button or dial forcontrolling the air conditioner 310, etc. may be provided. A user suchas a driver may use the button provided on the center fascia 310 tocontrol the air conditioner 310.

The clock 312 may be positioned around the button or dial forcontrolling the air conditioner 310.

The audio system 313 may include an operation panel on which a pluralityof buttons for performing the functions of the audio system 313 arearranged. The audio system 313 may provide a radio mode for providing aradio function, and a media mode for reproducing audio files stored invarious storage media.

The AVN system 314 may be embedded in the center fascia 22 of thevehicle 20, or may protrude from the dashboard 24. The AVN system 314can perform an audio function, a video function, and a navigationfunction in an integrated manner according to a user's manipulation. TheAVN system 314 may include an input unit 315 to receive a user commandrelated to the AVN system 314, and a display unit 316 to display ascreen related to the audio function, a screen related to the videofunction, or a screen related to the navigation function. Meanwhile, theaudio system 313 may be omitted as long as functions of the audio system313 are the same as those of the AVN system 314.

The steering wheel 23, which is used to change the driving direction ofthe vehicle 20, may include a rim 321 that is gripped by a driver, and aspoke 322 connected to a steering apparatus of the vehicle 20 andconnecting the rim 321 to a hub of a rotation axis for steering.According to an embodiment, a control unit 323 for controlling varioussystems (e.g., the audio system 313) in the vehicle 20 may be mounted onthe spoke 322.

Also, the dashboard 24 may further include an instrument panel 324 toinform a driver of driving speed, mileage, Revolutions Per Minute (RPM)of engine, an amount of oil, a temperature of cooling water, and variouswarnings, etc., during driving, and a globe box 325 to store variousthings.

The gear box 300 may be positioned between a driver seat and a passengerseat in the inside of the vehicle 20, and in the gear box 300, controlunits that the driver needs to manipulate during driving may beinstalled.

Referring to FIG. 18, in the gear box 300, a gearshift 301 to shiftgears of the vehicle 20, a display unit 302 to control the execution ofthe functions of the vehicle 20, and a button 303 to execute variousapparatuses installed in the vehicle 20 may be installed. Also, in thegear box 300, the touch input device 200 according to the secondembodiment of the present disclosure may be installed.

The touch input device 200 according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure may be installed in the gear box 300 so that a driver canmanipulate the touch input device 200 while keeping eyes forward duringdriving. For example, the touch input device 200 may be positioned belowthe gearshift 301. Meanwhile, the touch input device 200 may beinstalled in the center fascia 22, in the passenger seat, or in the backseat.

The touch input device 200 may be electrically connected to displayunits installed in the vehicle 20 to allow a user to select or executevarious icons displayed on the display units. The display unitsinstalled in the vehicle 20 may include the audio system 313, the AVNsystem 314, or the instrument panel 324. Also, the display unit 302 maybe installed in the gear box 300, as necessary. Also, the display unit302 may be electrically connected to a Head Up Display (HUD) or rearviewmirrors.

For example, the touch input device 200 may move a cursor displayed on adisplay unit, or execute an icon displayed on the display unit. The iconmay include a main menu, a selection menu, a setting menu, etc. Also,the touch input device 200 may be used to operate a navigation system,to set driving conditions of the vehicle 20, or to execute theperipherals of the vehicle 20.

Now, a structure of the touch input device 200 will be described withreference to FIGS. 19 and 21.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing an internal structure of the touchinput device 200 according to the second embodiment of the presentdisclosure. FIG. 20 is a plan view showing a sensing pattern of thetouch input device 200 according to the second embodiment of the presentdisclosure, and FIG. 21 is an enlarged view showing the sensing patternin detail.

As shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, the touch input device 200 may include atouch unit 401 that a user's input means (e.g., a finger or a touch pen)contacts, a plurality of first and second sensing patterns 420 and 430integrated into the touch unit 401 or disposed below the touch unit 401,and configured to receive touch signals, a plurality of wires 403respectively connected to the first and second sensing patterns 420 and430, a plurality of contact pads 404 connected to the wires 403, a base410 on which the first and second sensing patterns 420 and 430 areformed, and a painted layer 440 applied on the first and second sensingpatterns 420 and 430. FIG. 19 shows a state in which the first andsecond sensing patterns 420 and 430 are covered by the painted layer 440and not exposed to the outside.

The first sensing patterns 420 and the second sensing patterns 430 maybe formed in a predetermined pattern in order to sense a change incapacitance when a user contacts the touch input device 200 with his/herfinger, a touch pen, or the like to detect a position. Herein, “contact”or “touch” may be defined as a meaning including both direct contact andindirect contact. That is, the direct contact may correspond to the casein which an object touches the touch input device 200, and the indirectcontact correspond to the case in which an object approaches close tothe touch input device 200 without touching the touch input device 200to be within a range in which the first and second sensing patterns 420and 430 can sense the object.

The first sensing patterns 420 and the second sensing patterns 430 maybe arranged on the same plane, and may be various shapes of patterns.

Referring to FIG. 21, the first sensing patterns 420 may include aplurality of successive pattern shapes. For example, the first sensingpatterns 420 may be formed by successively connecting a “

”-shaped pattern. More specifically, the pattern shapes of the firstsensing patterns 420 may be formed such that a n-th horizontal pattern421, a n-th vertical pattern 422 extending downward from the right endof the n-th horizontal pattern 421, a (n+1)-th horizontal pattern 423extending to the left from the lower end of the n-th vertical pattern422, and a (n+1)-th vertical pattern 424 extending downward from theleft end of the (n+1)-th horizontal pattern 423 repeatedly appear.

Also, the first sensing patterns 420 may be transmitter electrodes (TXelectrodes). The first sensing patterns 420 may be arranged in parallelat regular intervals in the first direction (i.e., the horizontaldirection), wherein the number of the columns of the first sensingpatterns 420 arranged at regular intervals may correspond to horizontalresolution.

The second sensing patterns 430 may include a plurality of patternsdisposed between the columns of the first sensing patterns 420neighboring each other. The second sensing patterns 430 may be spacedfrom each other, and respectively maintained at a predetermined distanceto the first sensing patterns 420.

Referring to FIG. 21, the second sensing patterns 430 may be formed suchthat a n-th horizontal pattern 431 disposed at a distance of p above then-th horizontal pattern 421 of the first sensing patterns 420, a n-thvertical pattern 432 disposed at the distance of p to the right of then-th vertical pattern 422 of the first sensing patterns 420, a (n+1)-thhorizontal pattern 433 disposed at the distance of p below the (n+1)-thhorizontal pattern 423 of the first sensing patterns 420, and a (n+1)-thvertical pattern 434 disposed at the distance of p to the right of the(n+1)-th vertical pattern 424 of the first sensing patterns 420repeatedly appear.

Also, the second sensing patterns 430 may be receiver electrodes (RXelectrodes). The second sensing patterns 430 may be arranged in parallelat regular intervals in the first direction (i.e., the horizontaldirection), wherein the number of the columns of the second sensingpatterns 430 arranged at regular intervals may correspond to horizontalresolution.

Also, the second sensing patterns 430 may include a plurality ofextension patterns 435 diverging from the successive patterns andconnected to the wires 403. The extension patterns 435 may be arrangedin parallel at regular intervals in a second direction (i.e., thevertical direction).

Also, the pattern numbers of the second sensing patterns 430 disposedvertically to one sides of the first sensing patterns 320, that is, thenumber of the extension patterns may relate to vertical resolution.

Also, the first sensing pattern 421 and the second sensing pattern 430adjacent to each other may form a pixel. Also, the total number ofpixels may be represented by the product of the horizontal resolutionand the vertical resolution.

A pixel may be recognized as coordinates. That is, the case in whichinput means contacts a pixel may be distinguished from the case in whichinput means contacts another pixel adjacent to the pixel, so that thelocation of a pixel which input means contacts can be recognized.Accordingly, the more pixels formed in the same area of the touch unit401, the higher resolution of the touch unit 401.

Referring again to FIG. 19, one ends of the first and second sensingpatterns 420 and 430 may be connected to the wires 403 formed with metalor the like. Also, the contact pads 404 may be respectively connected toone ends of the wires 403, and the wires 403 may be connected to anintegrated circuit (not shown) through the contact pads 404.

Also, at one ends of the first and second sensing patterns 420 and 430,a plurality of contacts 402 may be provided and connected to the wires403. The contacts 402 may be electrically connected to the first andsecond sensing patterns 420 and 430, and have a width that is wider thanthat of the first and second sensing patterns 420 and 430. Accordingly,the contacts 402 may easily connect the first and second sensingpatterns 420 and 430 to the wires 403. Also, the contacts 402 may beadhered to the wires 403 by a conductive adhesive (e.g., solders).

Alternatively, the first and second sensing patterns 420 and 430 may beintegrated into the wires 403. That is, the first and second sensingpatterns 420 and 430 may extend to the outside of the touch unit 401 tobe directly connected to the contact pads 404 connected to theintegrated circuit.

The wires 403 may transfer sensing signals of the first and secondsensing patterns 420 and 430 to the integrated circuit through thecontact pads 404. The wires 403 and the contact pads 404 may be formedwith a conductive material.

If input means contacts an area of the touch unit 401, the capacitanceof a pixel corresponding to the area may be reduced, information aboutthe capacitance may arrive at the integrated circuit operating as acontroller through the wires 403 and the contact pads 404, and thecontroller may determine a location of the input means contacting thetouch unit 401. Also, when input means approaches close to an area ofthe touch unit 401, the capacitance of the area may be reduced. In thiscase, the controller may determine a location of the input meansapproaching close to the touch unit 401.

FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view of a touch input device 400 accordingto a third embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 22, the touch input device 400 according to the thirdembodiment of the present disclosure may have a flat surface. However,the touch surface of the touch input device 400 may have one of variouscurved surfaces or a discontinuous surface. The discontinuous surfacemay include a combination of a flat surface and an inclined surface. Thecase in which the touch input device 400 has a curved surface will bedescribed later.

The touch input device 400 may include a base 410 including a pluralityof first pattern grooves 411 and a plurality of second pattern grooves412, a plurality of first sensing patterns 420 plated in the firstpattern grooves 411, a plurality of second sensing patterns 430 platedin the second pattern grooves 412, and a painted layer 440 to isolatethe second sensing patterns 430.

The first sensing patterns 420 and the second sensing patterns 430 maybe formed on one surface of the base 410 using a Laser DirectingStructure (LDS) process. The LDS process is to form a support base witha material including a nonconductive and chemically stable metalcomposite, to expose a part of the support base to Ultra Violet (UV)laser or excimer laser to release the chemical bonding of the metalcomposite and expose metal seeds, and then to metalize the support baseto form a conductive structure on the exposed part of the support base.The LDS process is disclosed in Korean Patent Registration No. 374667,Korean Laid-open Patent Application No. 4001-40872, and Korean Laid-openPatent Application No. 4004-21614, the disclosures of which are herebyincorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein, and thisspecification will refer to these disclosures.

Alternatively, the first sensing patterns 420 and the second sensingpatterns 430 may be formed on one surface of the base 410 by injection,etching, or machining. An example of the machining may bethree-dimensional (3D) printing.

The first and second sensing patterns 420 and 430 may be formed with aconductive material, for example, metal. Also, the metal may be copperin consideration of conductivity and economic efficiency. However, thefirst and second sensing patterns 420 and 430 may be formed with anothermetal such as gold (Au).

The base 410 may include a metal composite. For example, the base 410may be a composite including a resin and a metal oxide. Herein, theresin may include at least one of Polycabonate (PC), Polyamide (PA), andAcrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene copolymer (ABS), and the metal oxide mayinclude at least one of Mg, Cr, Cu, Ba, Fe, Ti, and Al.

In one surface of the base 410, the first pattern grooves 411 may beformed to accommodate the first sensing patterns 420, and the secondpattern grooves 412 may be formed to accommodate the second sensingpatterns 430. The first sensing patterns 420 may be disposed in thefirst pattern grooves 411, and the second sensing patterns 430 may bedisposed in the second pattern grooves 412.

The first and second pattern grooves 411 and 412 may be formed byirradiating laser on one surface of the base 410. The first and secondpattern grooves 411 and 412 may be reduced to metal by heat generatedwhen the first and second pattern grooves 411 and 412 are formed, sothat metal seeds may be formed in the first and second pattern grooves411 and 412.

The first and second sensing patterns 420 and 430 may be respectivelyformed in the first and second pattern grooves 411 and 412 by platingthe first and second pattern grooves 411 and 412. A process ofperforming plating on metal seeds is well known in the art, andaccordingly, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. Also, thefirst and second sensing patterns 420 and 430 may be formed by adeposition process. Also, the first and second sensing patterns 420 and430 may be formed by a combination of the plating process and thedeposition process. In the following description, it is assumed that thefirst and second sensing patterns 420 and 430 are formed by the platingprocess.

The first and second sensing patterns 420 and 430 may include a Cuplating layer, and nickel (Ni) may be plated on the Cu plating layer forantioxidant treatment. Also, if the first and second sensing patterns420 and 430 include an Au plating layer, conductivity can be improved.

Hereinafter, a method of manufacturing the touch input device 400according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 23 to 28.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating a method of manufacturing the touchinput device 400 according to the third embodiment of the presentdisclosure, and FIGS. 24 to 28 are cross-sectional views for describingthe method of manufacturing the touch input device 400 according to thethird embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 24 is a view for describing operation S500 of preparing the base410.

The base 410 may include a metal composite. Also, the base 410 may beformed using injection. Also, the base 410 may be formed by coating ametal composite on a base material, such as a resin, glass, leather,etc.

However, unlike the shape of the base 410 shown in FIG. 24, the base 410may have a curved surface. For example, one surface of the base 410 maybe formed as a concave curved surface corresponding to a part of theinner side surface of a sphere.

FIG. 25 is a view for describing operation S510 of forming the firstpattern grooves 411.

The first pattern grooves 411 may be formed by irradiating laser, suchas UV laser or excimer laser, on one surface of the base 410. Heatgenerated when the first pattern grooves 411 are formed may release thechemical bonding of the metal composite to reduce the metal composite tometal, thereby forming metal seeds in the first pattern grooves 411.

The first pattern grooves 411 may be formed in a curved surface of thebase 410. Since the first pattern grooves 411 are formed by irradiatinglaser, the first pattern grooves 411 can be formed in various patternsregardless of the surface shape of the base 410.

FIG. 26 is a view for describing operation S520 of forming the secondpattern grooves 412.

The second pattern grooves 412 may be formed by irradiating UV laser orexcimer laser on one surface of the base 410. Heat generated when thesecond pattern grooves 412 are formed may release the chemical bondingof the metal composite to reduce the metal composite to metal, therebyforming metal seeds in the second pattern grooves 412.

The second pattern grooves 412 may be respectively formed alongside thefirst pattern grooves 411. Alternatively, each second pattern groove 412may be formed between two neighboring first pattern grooves 411. Thatis, the first pattern grooves 411 and the second pattern grooves 412 maybe arranged in various ways according to the shapes of patterns. Also, aplurality of third patter grooves (not shown) may be further formed asnecessary.

The second pattern grooves 412 may be formed in a curved surface of thebase 410. Since the second pattern grooves 412 are formed by irradiatinglaser, the second pattern grooves 412 can also be formed in variousshapes of patterns regardless of the surface shape of the base 410.

Meanwhile, the first pattern grooves 411 and the second pattern grooves412 may be formed by a single process. For example, laser may move onone surface of the base 410 to form the first pattern grooves 411 andthe second pattern grooves 412 sequentially or alternately.

FIG. 27 is a view for describing operation S530 of forming the first andsecond sensing patterns 420 and 430.

The first and second sensing patterns 420 and 430 may be formed bymetalizing the exposed metal seeds of the first and second patterngrooves 411 and 412. For example, the first and second sensing patterns420 and 430 may include copper plating layers plated on the first andsecond pattern grooves 411 and 412. Also, for antioxidant treatment,nickel may be plated on the copper plating layers.

Meanwhile, the first sensing patterns 420 and the second sensingpatterns 430 may be formed by a single process. For example, the firstsensing patterns 420 and the second sensing patterns 430 may besimultaneously formed by performing plating one time.

FIG. 28 is a view for describing operation S540 of forming the paintedlayer 440.

The painted layer 440 may be coated on one surface of the base 410 inorder to protect the first and second sensing patterns 420 and 430 froman external impact or dust. Also, the painted layer 440 may form thetouch surface of the touch unit 401 which a user contacts.

The painted layer 440 may be formed by UV painting or UV coating usingsunscreen agents.

Also, although not shown in the drawings, examination operation S550 ofexamining whether the touch input device 400 manufactured by operationsshown in FIGS. 24 to 28 operates properly may be further performed.

The examination operation S550 may be performed by supplying current tothe first and second sensing patterns 420 and 430, and measuring achange in mutual capacitance between the first and second sensingpatterns 420 and 430 to determine whether the first and second sensingpatterns 420 and 430 can be used as sensors. In order for the touchinput device 400 to function as a product, when input means contacts thetouch unit 401, mutual capacitance between the first and second sensingpatterns 420 and 430 should change so that a location of the touch unit401 which the input means contacts can be detected based on the changedmutual capacitance.

Meanwhile, the examination operation S550 may be performed beforeoperation S540 of forming the painted layer 440. The reason is becausethe first or second sensing patterns 420 and 430 need to be repaired ifthe first or second sensing patterns 420 and 430 are determined to beunsuitable in the examination operation S550.

FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view of a touch input device 400-1according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 29, the touch input device 400-1 according to thefourth embodiment of the present disclosure may be formed by coating thebase 410 on a base material 450 formed with one of various materials.The base material 450 may include a resin, glass, or leather. The basematerial 450 may be stiff or elastic. Also, the base material 450 may beflexible or rigid after being hardened. Also, the base material 45 maybe formed by injection-molding.

Meanwhile, the touch input device 400 according to the third embodimentof the present disclosure may include the touch unit 401 formed in acurved shape. Accordingly, the first and second sensing patterns 420 and430 may be bent along the curvature of the touch surface. For example,the first and second sensing patterns 420 and 430 may be formed tocorrespond to the touch units 210 and 220 of the touch input device 200according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure as shown inFIGS. 10 to 12.

The curved surface of the touch unit 401 may include a curved surfacehaving a constant curvature, and a curved surface having differentcurvatures. Also, the curved surface of the touch unit 401 may include acurved surface having two or more curvatures, and a curved surface bentin different directions according to coordinates. Also, the touch unit401 may be provided as a bent surface. For example, a touch signal maybe input along a corner at which two surfaces extending in differentdirections meet.

The base 410 may include a curved surface in one surface. For example,one surface of the base 410 may be formed in the shape of a part of aspherical surface. Also, the first and second pattern grooves 411 and412 may be formed in the curved surface of the base 410. Since the firstand second pattern grooves 411 and 412 are formed using laser, the firstpattern grooves 411 may be formed in a complicated shape regardless ofthe shape of the base 410.

Then, the first and second sensing patterns 420 and 430 may be plated onthe first and second pattern grooves 411 and 412. Due to the propertiesof plating, the first and second sensing patterns 420 and 430 can beplated regardless of the shapes of the first and second pattern grooves411 and 412, and even when the first and second pattern grooves 411 and412 are neither linear nor flat, the first and second sensing patterns420 and 430 can be easily plated on the first and second pattern grooves411 and 412.

Hereinafter, a method in which a touch signal is input to the gestureinput unit 210 and the swiping input unit 220 will be described withreference to FIG. 12.

The first and second sensing patterns 420 and 430 may be configured tocover both the gesture input unit 210 disposed in the center area of thetouch unit 401, and the swiping input unit 220 disposed in the edge areaof the touch unit 401. That is, the first and second sensing patterns420 and 430 may extend from the gesture input unit 210 to the swipinginput unit 220.

For example, the outermost patterns of the first and second sensingpatterns 420 and 430 may be arranged to correspond to the swiping inputunit 220. Accordingly, if mutual capacitance of the outermost patternsof the first and second sensing patterns 420 and 430 changes, thecontroller may determine that a user touches the swiping input unit 220,and if mutual capacitance of the other patterns of the first and secondsensing patterns 420 and 430 changes, the controller may determine thatthe user touches the gesture input unit 210.

As such, since the first and second sensing patterns 420 and 430 canseparate a touch signal acquired from the gesture input unit 210 from atouch signal acquired from the swiping input unit 220, a manufacturingprocess can be simplified.

FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional view of a touch input device 400-2according to a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 30, the touch input device 400-2 according to the fifthembodiment of the present disclosure may be formed by coating the base410 on the base material 450 formed with one of various materials. Thebase material 450 may be stiff or elastic. Also, the base material 450may be rigid after being hardened, or flexible. Also, the base material450 may be formed by injection-molding.

The first sensing patterns 420 and the second sensing patterns 430 maybe formed in the rear surface of the base 410. After the base 410 iscoated on the rear surface of the base material 450, the first andsecond sensing patterns 420 and 430 may be formed in the rear surface ofthe base 410.

Alternatively, the first and second sensing patterns 420 and 430 may beformed in the upper surface of the base 410. In this case, since thedistance between the surface of the base material 450 and the first andsecond sensing patterns 420 and 430 becomes small, touch sensitivity mayincrease. The first and second sensing patterns 420 and 430 may beformed in the upper surface of the base 410, and then, the base 410 maybe attached on the rear surface of the base material 450.

The base material 450 may be formed with a nonconductive material. Forexample, the base material 450 may include a resin, glass, or leather.Also, the base material 450 may have a thin thickness. The thickness ofthe base material 450 can be decided within a range in which mutualcapacitance of the first and second sensing patterns 420 and 430disposed in the rear surface of the base material 450 can change when auser touches the base material 450 with his/her hand.

By combining the base 410 in which the first and second sensing patterns420 and 430 are formed with the base material 450, the utilization ofthe touch input device can be enhanced.

Most of all, the base 410 may be coated on the base material 450 formedwith any one of various materials. That is, the base material 450 can beselected from various kinds of materials. Also, since the base 410 iscoated and then attached on the base material 450, durability againstheat or vibration can be improved.

For example, when the touch input device according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure is used in a vehicle, the touch input device canbe used in various ways. As shown in FIG. 18, the touch input device maybe installed in the gear box 300 to be used as a central control system,and also the touch input device may be installed in a handle, a doortrim, a ceiling, glass, a pillar, or the like to replace physicalbuttons.

FIGS. 31 and 32 show cases in which the touch input device according toan embodiment of the present disclosure have various curved surfaces.

FIG. 31 shows a touch input device 400-3 according to a sixth embodimentof the present disclosure, and FIG. 32 shows a touch input device 400-4according to a seventh embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 31, the touch input device 400-3 according to the sixthembodiment of the present disclosure may have a concave curved surface.FIG. 31 shows a cross-section of the touch input device 400-3. When thetouch input device 400-3 is shown in a front direction, the touch inputdevice 400-3 may appear in the shape of a concave bowl.

Referring now to FIG. 32, the touch input device 400-4 according to theseventh embodiment of the present disclosure may have a convex curvedsurface. FIG. 32 shows a cross-section of the touch input device 400-4.When the touch input device 400-4 is shown in a front direction, thetouch input device 400-3 may appear in the shape of a part of the outerside surface of a sphere.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, since the touch inputdevice according to an embodiment of the present disclosure ismanufactured using a LDS method, a manufacturing process can besimplified, and process costs can be reduced. Also, even when the touchunit has a curved surface, the sensing patterns can be easily formed.Particularly, even when the touch unit has curved surfaces of differentcurvatures, the sensing patterns can be formed.

Since no adhesion process is used when the sensing patterns are formedon the base, the touch input device can be protected from vibrations andimpacts and have high durability. Also, since the touch input device ismanufactured in a high-temperature environment using laser, thereliability of the touch input device in a high-temperature environmentcan be ensured. In addition, since two kinds of electrode patterns areformed on one surface of the touch pad, the touch input device can bemore slimmed.

Although a few embodiments of the present disclosure have been shown anddescribed, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art thatchanges may be made in these embodiments without departing from theprinciples and spirit of the disclosure, the scope of which is definedin the claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A touch input device comprising: a main bodyincluding a touch input unit having at least one curved portion disposedon a surface of the main body and a base including a metal compositedisposed on another surface of the main body; a first pattern grooveengraved in a surface of the base; a second pattern groove engraved inthe surface of the base and disposed adjacent to the first patterngroove; a first sensing pattern disposed in the first pattern groove andincluding a conductive material; and a second sensing pattern disposedin the second pattern groove and including a conductive material; and awire connecting the first sensing pattern and the second sensing patternto an integrated circuit, wherein: the first sensing pattern is formedwith a plurality of pattern columns arranged in parallel, each patterncolumn formed by successively connecting a pattern of a predeterminedshape, one end of each pattern column connected to the wire, and thesecond sensing pattern is formed with a plurality of pattern columnsarranged in parallel, the plurality of pattern columns respectivelymaintained at a predetermined distance to the plurality of patterncolumns of the first sensing pattern, wherein the first and secondsensing patterns are disposed to cover a gesture input area or a swipinginput area of the touch input unit.
 2. The touch input device accordingto claim 1, wherein the base includes a resin containing at least one ofPolycarbonate (PC), Polyamide (PA), and Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrenecopolymer (ABS) and includes a metal oxide containing at least one ofMg, Cr, Cu, Ba, Fe, Ti, and Al.
 3. The touch input device according toclaim 1, wherein the base is coated on the other surface of the touchinput unit formed of a resin, glass, or leather.
 4. The touch inputdevice according to claim 1, wherein: the second sensing patternincludes: a successive pattern disposed at a predetermined distance to apattern column of the first sensing pattern and formed by successivelyconnecting a pattern of a predetermined shape; and an extension patterndiverging from the successive pattern and connected to the wire, and theextension pattern includes a plurality of patterns diverging from thesuccessive pattern at regular distances.
 5. The touch input deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein a surface of the touch input unit includesa curved surface or a discontinuous surface.
 6. The touch input deviceaccording to claim 5, wherein a thickness of the main body is uniform inan area where the first sensing pattern and the second sensing patternare disposed.
 7. A method of manufacturing a touch input device, themethod comprising: preparing a main body including a touch input unithaving at least one curved portion disposed on a surface of the mainbody and a base including a metal composite on another surface of themain body; forming a first pattern groove and a second pattern groove byirradiating a laser on a surface of the base, wherein the second patterngroove is formed adjacent to the first pattern groove; forming a firstsensing pattern with a plurality of pattern columns arranged inparallel, each pattern column formed by successively connecting apattern of a predetermined shape, one end of each pattern columnconnected to the wire; forming a second sensing pattern with a pluralityof pattern columns arranged in parallel, the plurality of patterncolumns respectively maintained at a predetermined distance to theplurality of pattern columns of the first sensing pattern, by performingplating or deposition on the first pattern groove and the second patterngroove, wherein the first sensing pattern is spaced from the secondsensing pattern; supplying current to the first sensing pattern and thesecond sensing pattern to determine whether the first sensing patternand the second sensing pattern are able to be used as sensors; anddetecting a change in mutual capacitance between the first sensingpattern and the second sensing pattern, wherein the first and secondsensing patterns are disposed to cover a gesture input area or a swipinginput area of the touch input unit.
 8. The method according to claim 7,wherein the preparing of the main body further comprises coating thebase on the other surface of the touch input unit formed of a resin,glass, or leather.
 9. The method according to claim 7, wherein thepreparing of the main body comprises integrating the base into the touchinput unit, the base formed of a resin including a metal composite. 10.The method according to claim 7, wherein: when a laser is irradiated tothe surface of the base, metal seeds are exposed from inner sidesurfaces of the first pattern groove and the second pattern groove, andwhen the first sensing pattern and the second sensing pattern are platedor deposited, a conductive material is attached on the metal seeds. 11.A vehicle comprising the touch input device according to claim
 1. 12.The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the touch input device isinstalled at a centralized control system in a gear box of the vehicle.13. A vehicle including a touch input device comprising: a touch inputunit formed of a resin, glass, or leather, the touch input unit havingat least one curved portion; a base including a metal composite andcoated on a rear surface of the touch input unit; a first pattern grooveformed in a surface of the base; a second pattern groove formed in thesurface of the base and disposed adjacent to the first pattern groove; afirst sensing pattern disposed in the first pattern groove and includinga conductive material; a second sensing pattern disposed in the secondpattern groove and including a conductive material; and a wireconnecting the first sensing pattern and the second sensing pattern toan integrated circuit, wherein: the first sensing pattern is formed witha plurality of pattern columns arranged in parallel, each pattern columnformed by successively connecting a pattern of a predetermined shape,one end of each pattern column connected to the wire, the second sensingpattern is formed with a plurality of pattern columns arranged inparallel, the plurality of pattern columns respectively maintained at apredetermined distance to the plurality of pattern columns of the firstsensing pattern, and wherein the first and second sensing patterns aredisposed to cover a gesture input area or a swiping input area of thetouch input unit.